Christopher Baxter/The Star-LedgerMany toys still contain dangerous levels of toxins like lead, according to the 26th annual "Trouble in Toyland" report.

TRENTON — The toys range from shiny Hello Kitty key chains and Tinker bell watches to plastic sleep masks and fake gold medallions. But as innocent as they may seem, safety advocates said today, they pose a serious threat.

The 26th annual "Trouble in Toyland" report, unveiled at a news conference held by the New Jersey Public Interest Research Group, found that many toys still contain dangerous levels of toxins like lead.

"While most toys are safe, our researchers still found toys on the shelves that pose choking hazards and other stories that contain hazardous levels of toxic chemicals," said Gideon Weissman, a spokesman for the group.

For example, a sleeping mask made by Claire’s contained 77,000 parts per million of Phthalates, an industrial plastic chemical, which is 77 times the legal limit set by the federal government, the group said.

UNSAFE TOYS

The Public Interest Research Group today unveiled its annual list of unsafe toys. Here is a sampling of the items identified in the report as being potentially dangerous to young children:

In another case, the Little Hands Love Book manufactured by Piggy Toes Press contained 720 parts per million of lead, more than twice the allowable federal limit for toys, according to the report.

Richard Hilicki, president of Dalmatian Press, which oversees the Piggy Toes book, said that the company’s lab results showed the book met all safety standards, including those for lead content.

"These results clearly show that Little Hands Love clearly meets all U.S. safety requirements and poses no safety issue to children," Hilicki said.

A representative of Claire’s did not return requests for comment.

Weissman said that federal legislation passed in 2008 to place stricter limits on toxins and toys, and to give more money and authority to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, has greatly improved safety.

But he said regulators must continue to revise standards for the myriad chemicals used by manufacturers in the United States and elsewhere.

"Policy makers should resist efforts of powerful special interests to weaken the Consumer Product Safety Commission and other health and safety rules," Weissman said as a group of children played behind him.

The report found that choking on small parts, balls and balloons remains the leading cause of toy-related injuries and deaths. More than 200 children died since 1990 from choking on toys, the report said.

And more than 250,000 children were treated in emergency rooms for injuries related to toys in 2010, according to the group.

State Health Commissioner Mary O’Dowd said parents need to be vigilant this holiday season.

"Just reading the labels of the products your purchasing can ensure you’re choosing a toy that’s appropriate for the age of the person playing with it," O’Dowd said.